Missouri School Funding

Four state educators and representatives are accusing the Governor of not giving enough funds to education. Missouri state leaders are urging Governor Bob Holden to make education a top priority in 2004. House Republicans are asking Governor Holden to release 190-million dollars in funds they say are being withheld unneccesarily from Missouri`s public schools. State Representative Bryan Stevenson says political bickering is to blame for the suffering of public schools in the state. "That is why we are saying the children should not be held hostage in the middle of this. The children should not be in the middle of a tug o` war. They should not be pulled by one party and then the other party. Party is irrelevant here,"said Stevenson. Representative Stevenson says state revenue came in at 8 and a half percent above what was projected for the fiscal year. He says that`s why they`re kicking off a petition campaign for governor holden to release those funds. State leaders are asking Missourians` to join teachers, administrators, students and parents in signing the petition. If you would like to sign the petition for the Governor to release funds for public education, you can contact your local representative to sign a hard copy of the petition. Or you can add your name online at http://www.house.mo.gov/moschoolbucks/ State leaders say there is no magic number, but every signature counts. Reported By: Janae Menz